For the first time since Dawson’s Creek wrapped in 2003, the full cast is reuniting in person for a one-night-only event. On Monday, September 22, the beloved stars will gather at the Richard Rodgers Theater in New York City to perform a live reading of the show’s 1998 pilot episode.
A Big Reunion
Fans can expect to see James Van Der Beek (Dawson), Michelle Williams (Jen), Katie Holmes (Joey), Joshua Jackson (Pacey), Mary Beth Peil (Grams), John Wesley Shipp (Mitch), Mary-Margaret Humes (Gail), Nina Repeta (Bessie), Kerr Smith (Jack), Meredith Monroe (Andie), and Busy Philipps (Audrey) all on stage together. Since Smith, Philipps, and Monroe joined the show after season one, they’ll step into other roles during the pilot reading.
Shipp announced the news on Instagram, posting, “🔊🛶🎭 I can’t believe this is happening❗️Join us in New York City on September 22 for a memorable evening to celebrate our dear friend, James VanDerBeek. Tickets go on-sale Friday August 22nd at 10AM ET / 7AM PT at the link in my bio.”
Soap Hub caught up with the Shipp earlier this year, where the actor spoke about his time in daytime and on Dawson’s Creek.
The teen drama originally ran for six seasons on The WB from 1998 to 2003, produced by Sony Pictures Television. The live reading is sponsored by Guardant Health and Hard Rock Hotel New York and will benefit the nonprofit F Cancer and Van Der Beek. The actor was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer. The actor posted about his battle on his Instagram on his 48th birthday.
Daytime To Primetime
While Dawson’s Creek was a pop-culture phenomenon, three of its cast members also have strong roots in daytime television.
First, James Van Der Beek portrayed Stephen Anderson on As the World Turns.
John Wesley Shipp is well-known to soap fans for his role as Kelly Nelson on Guiding Light in the early 1980s. He later won two Daytime Emmy Awards—one in 1986 for his performance as Doug Cummings on ATWT—and the other in 1987 for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Daytime Drama Series for his role as Martin Ellis on Santa Barbara.. Shipp went on to become a primetime staple, playing Dawson’s dad, Mitch Leery, but soap lovers will never forget his daytime beginnings.
Kerr Smith also got his start in soaps before landing the role of Jack McPhee on Dawson’s Creek. In 1996, he joined ATWT as Ryder Hughes, the rebellious grandson of Kim (Kathryn Hays) and Bob (Don Hastings). Smith spent a year in Oakdale before moving on to primetime, later starring in series like Charmed and The Fosters, but his daytime debut cemented him as part of the soap family.
With the entire cast together again, including soap alums Shipp and Smith, this live reading promises to be both nostalgic and meaningful. Longtime fans of Dawson’s Creek—and soap audiences who followed these stars from daytime to primetime—won’t want to miss this celebration.
